DE Cameron Heyward earns top defensive marks for performance against Chiefs

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DE Cameron Heyward earns top defensive marks for performance against Chiefs

Steelers DE Cameron Heyward earns top defensive marks for performance against Chiefs

By Neal Coolong on Aug 26 2013

Former Steelers first round pick Cameron Heyward is showing life with new defensive responsibilities.

Pro Football Focus, an evaluation web site, gave Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward a 3.3 grade - the highest among Steelers defensive players - for his performance in Saturday's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Heyward was given credit for a sack, two pressures and four hurries. It is the highest grade the site has ever given Heyward.

Heading into the 2013 season, Heyward is one of the biggest question marks on the team. A first round draft pick in 2011, he hasn't managed to get on the field often so far in his career. However, with a more upfield-aggressive style the Steelers plan to implement in the 2013 regular season, Heyward's explosiveness may be better utilized than the two-gap technique the Steelers' defensive ends have employed for the last several years.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was given the highest overall grade for the team at 4.1.

Offensively, the Steelers had four players with negative grades - tight end David Paulson (-1.1), right guard David DeCastro (-1.2), left tackle Mike Adams (-1.4) and running back Jonathan Dwyer (-1.5).

Defensively, linebacker Larry Foote earned a 2.0, the third-highest grade for the team in the game. Much-maligned cornerback Josh Victorian had a -0.7.